By John Moody Rain, rain, rain.  Something about rain that is conducive for writing.  Creates a pensive mood here on Broadway and 77^th in the Big Apple. *My first MMA interview was with Kalib Starnes at UFC 71 in Las Vegas.  Starnes beat Chris Leben at that event, the under card of Chuck Liddell v. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.  Oh how Starnes and Leben’s careers have gone in different directions.  Starnes recently lost to Patrick Cote at RingSide MMA 10 in Montreal.  Leben will be in a featured fight against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132. ...

Looking to reclaim some face, both Kalib Starnes and Patrick Cote will look to re-catapult there careers with a victory over one another in a battle between two-tested veterans. Now that both men are officially in the regional circuit in the mixed martial arts community, their hoping that with a win here, they could make it back to the big leagues. I guess it's just too bad that it's two countryman pitted against one another, with the loser left embarrassed before their native Canada this April. ...

Patrick Cote, a main stay in the UFC's middleweight division, recently announced his release from the promotion. Debuting with the organization in 2004, Cote took a short notice fight against former champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 50, stepping up in weight class to compete in the light heavyweight division. Though losing a unanimous decision, Cote impressed many when he was able to drop Ortiz inside of the first round, and was invited back to the promotion as a middleweight. Subsequent losses to Joe Doerksen and Chris Leben eventually signaled his release from the promotion, before he was brought back by "The Ultimate Fighter". Competing on the special "Comeback" series on season 4, Patrick battled his way to the finals, where he eventually lost to winner Travis Lutter, who won his shot at the middleweight title. Cote was invited back by the promotion once again, and after a dismal 0-4 run with the worlds largest organization, came storming back with four straight victories over credible opponents. The glory days, of course, are well behind him now. ...

Once again, I sympathize with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.   On paper, Tom Lawlor vs. Patrick Cote at UFC 121 had all the ingredients for fireworks.  Yet, as we see more and more, when you combine a pure puncher with a native wrestler … who is committed to only wrestling, the potential for a sleeper is always close at hand. In baseball it goes ... "good pitching beats good hitting." In MMA should it go ... "good wrestling beats good standup?" ...

Direct from the ufc press office comes the final bout confirmations for UFC 121.  UFC 121 features the headline fight between heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and challenger Cain Velasquez on October 23^rd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. This card certainly brings the goods with Lesnar topping the slate but it is the Spike TV bouts and undercard which really makes this night shine.  Patrick Cote and Ryan Lawlor kick off the two fights on free TV while fans in the house will be treated to the always exicting Sam Stout battling Paul Taylor at lightweight and Gilbert Yvel brawling with Jon Madsen at heavyweight. Are you ready for BROCKTOBER?  Read on for all the latest event details from the UFC. ...

A fairly new addition to the UFC's already massive exposure to it's fan base, SpikeTV officials were able to confirm in July that there would be a joint venture once again between the promotion and network company, in order to broadcast 2 selected fights, as part of a special "UFC Prelims" feature. SpikeTV officials were able to confirm that the one hour special will two bouts, both in the middleweight division. ...

In my previous article concerning the UFC’s upcoming UFC 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” event, I noted that the PPV card was filled with excellent matches. My anticipation for this card remains very high, especially now that the UFC has released four preliminary matches. While not containing the sheer star power of fights like Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hamill, or Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann, the UFC 121 undercard will be filled with championship contenders, submission specialists, knockout artists, tough veterans, and even the winner of the most-recent series of “The Ultimate Fighter”. Here’s how it all breaks down. ...

UFC Fight Night 22, which will air live in SpikeTV on September 25th, and the Pay-Per-View event UFC 118, held on August 28, will experience a bit of a shake up. Middleweight contender Alan Belcher reported via Twitter, that a detached retina will prevent him from competing opposite of Demian Maia, a match that "The Talent" had been campaigning for since his victory over former title challenger Patrick Cote. ...

“Predator” Patrick Cote (23-4) will return to the Octagon for the first time since challenging Fighters.com and UFC middleweight champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4) at UFC 90 in Chicago in October 2008 to fight “The Talent” Alan Belcher (15-6) at UFC 113 in Montreal May 8. Cote's knee gave out in the third round versus Silva and Cote has had two surgeries in the 16 months since he last fought. Belcher TKO'd Wilson Gouveia (12-7) at UFC 107 in Memphis last December. ...

"Predator" Patrick Cote (23-4) will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and sit out six to eight months, according to Sportsnet. Thirty-nine seconds into the third round of his UFC title challenge versus Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (13-5) at UFC 90 in Chicago Saturday, Cote crumbled to the mat in agony and clutching his knee.  A replay revealed a gruesome bulge where his knee had popped. Silva was awarded the TKO victory. The injury first occured a year ago, then was aggravated four weeks ago as Cote prepared for the biggest fight of his career.  Cote considered pulling out of the fight, but received a cortisone shot and clearance from his doctor. Cote took Silva into the third round for the first time in Silva's UFC career and fans have called for a rematch; but, Cote's surgery and rehabilitation makes a rematch unlikely before Silva's planned retirment. ...

Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (23-4) won by TKO at UFC 90 in Chicago Saturday night when "Predator" Patrick Cote's (13-5) knee popped at 39 seconds of round three. Top welterweight contender "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (16-3) easily beat fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-3) by unanimous decision. Scores were 30-27 twice and 29-28 once. Fourth-ranked heavyweight "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) was devastated by fellow Brazilian, but virtual unknown "Cigano" Junior dos Santos (7-1) via first-round TKO at 1:21. Fifth-ranked lightweight "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (33-3-1) won a unanimous decision over Tyson Griffin (12-2) by judges' scores of 29-28 twice and 30-27 once. Thales Leites (14-1), "Bully" Gray Maynard (6-0), "King" Spencer Fisher (22-4), Dan Miller (10-1), "Drago" Pete Sell (8-4), and Hermes Franca (19-7) were all winners inside the Octagon. ...

Fighters.com's seventh-ranked middleweight "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (17-6) made a successful comebackwith an anti-climactic unanimous decision over Makoto Takimoto (4-5) in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 25 August and plans to fight Falaniko Vitale (26-8) 3 October in Denver. Trigg also welcomed a son, Stone, to his family in September.  Congratulations from Fighters.com. The remainder of the Middleweight Top Ten was on holiday last month...well, at least at middleweight. Top contender "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3) made a successful return to light heavyweight in Atlanta 6 September.  He remains wishy-washy about his future in either division. But, before Franklin could move-up to 205, Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (22-4) beat him there.  Franklin must wonder whether Silva is going to move to Cincinnati and start teaching high school math too. Silva is preparing to defend his Fighters.com and UFC titles versus "Predator" Patrick Cote (13-4) in Chicago 25 October. Third-ranked "Ely" Paulo Filho's (16-0) WEC title defense versus Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) was postponed from tonight to 5 November due to Hurrican Ike. Fourth-ranked EliteXC champ "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-4) is rumored to be considering a rematch versus Joey Villasenor (26-6), whom Lawler KO'd in 22 seconds in 2006. ...

The middleweight top ten whirls like a dervish across the UFC, WEC, EliteXC, DREAM, Sengoku, and Strikeforce, leaving Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (22-4) to defend versus "Predator" Patrick Cote (13-4) in Chicago 25 October. The UFC seemed intent that sixth-ranked "Thunder" Yushin Okami (21-4-1) miss his de facto UFC top contender challenge of Silva, marketing Cote versus "Cachorrao" Ricardo Almeida (9-3) in Las Vegas 5 July as an eliminator fight even before Okami pulled up lame with a broken hand. Cote won by split decision. ...

Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4) will defend his UFC title against “The Predator” Patrick Cote (13-4) in Rosemont, IL, near Chicago 25 October, the UFC announced Sunday. ‘‘There is no better way to introduce UFC to Chicago than with the championship fight between Anderson Silva and Patrick Cote,’’ UFC President Dana White said. Silva made his debut as a light heavyweight 19 July with a 61-second knockout of “Sandman” James Irvin (14-5). Cote also won his last fight, a split decision over “Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3) 5 July. Fifth-ranked “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-4), who has a win via disqualification over Silva, was expected to be next in line for the title shot, but broke his hand during training. ...

From TUF to top! New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) demoralized and upset former Champ "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) by unanimous decision Saturday night in Las Vegas. "This is the greatest night of my life," Griffin said after toppling the odds. Though Jackson won the first round by staggering Griffin with a left, then dropping the challenger with a right uppercut, Griffin laid the groundwork for his decision victory by whittling away at Jackson's lead leg with low kicks. “He jacked my leg up,” Jackson admitted. In the second round, Griffin buckled the champ with a leg kick and passed to mount on the mat, grinding elbows into Rampage's head, but doing little damage. Rampage limped into round three searching for a knockout, but managed only a combination that Griffin weathered, though he admitted, "Every punch that motherfucker threw hurt.” Jackson scored a fourth-round takedown; but, Griffin wrapped a leg triangle, then transitioned to an omoplata when Jackson freed himself from the triangle. Jackson stood out of the submission and cracked Griffin with a right hand, opening a cut on the challenger's right eyelid, then followed with a left as the bell ended the round. It was back-and-forth and both fighters felt they needed the final round to win; but, Jackson seemed disappointed by the situation, while Griffin was inspired. Griffin got back to game plan in the fifth round, stinging Rampage's lead leg, as Jackson threw desperate haymakers without landing. The judges scored the fight 48-46 twice and 49-46 once for Griffin. Fighters.com scored it 48-46 for Griffin, our new champion. “He whupped my ass,” Jackson admitted after the battle; but, Griffin said, "It was close and I think we’re gonna have to do it again.” ...

"For all you Rampage haters, you might as well get used to me," Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-6) announced to the crowd at the UFC 86 weigh-ins in Las Vegas Friday.  "I'ma be here for a long time," he added, then flashed the peace sign. Rampage weighed in at 205-pounds, as did eighth-ranked title challenger Forrest Griffin (15-4). Xtreme Couture's Griffin said, "It's nice to fight in your hometown.  Thank you, guys." Griffin smirked in the gaze of an intense Rampage stare down. All fighters on Saturday night's card made weight. Only lightweight Gleison Tibau (15-5) missed the mark, but by the allowed one pound at 156-pounds.  Tibau will fight "Daddy" Joe Stevenson (33-8). 6'4" lightweight Corey Hill (2-0) looked absolutely emaciated at 155-pounds. ...

It's with a heavy heart that Fighters.com's June Middleweight Rankings saw legendary "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) fall from the top ten. But, the cold, hard ledger reveals Hendo' hasn't had a win at 185-pounds in two years. Hendo's previous rank was filled by tenth-ranked "Mayhem" Jason Miller (20-6), falling a notch to newly ninth-ranked "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (9-1). Souza debuted in the top ten after pulling off a tight two-round unanimous decision over Miller in DREAM's Middleweight Grand Prix 15 June. Also in June Japanese action, "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2) cemented his seventh ranking with a UD over "Pink Pounder" Logan Clark at Sengoku. Misaki now seeks revenge over new Sengoku add-on, seventh-ranked "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6). No Sengoku match-up has been announced for Trigg; but, one would assume Misaki's home nation promotion wants to match the old enemies as soon as Trigg is ready. Sixth-ranked "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) was pulling away from "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) in the third round of their EliteXC title fight 31 May in Newark, west of New York City, when a thumb to Smith's eye rendered the result a No Contest. Lawler held steady in June, as did the entire middleweight top five. ...

Leather-clad UFC President Dana White manned the podium at a presser in Montréal Monday morning to promote UFC 83 at the Bell Centre April 19th. The fight card's big bout features interim UFC Welterweight Champions Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre. "To be the champion, I have to beat the champion," St. Pierre clarified. St. Pierre, 15-2, was TKO'd by "The Terror" Serra at UFC 69 last April, but has dominated his subsequent two opponents. "A bit of an underdog?  Is that what you heard?" Serra teased a reporter.  "What were the odds?  Something ridiculous, like 14 to one?" Serra's "W" was the upset of '07, a year which included "Rampage" Jackson's KO of top-ranked former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin's submission of highly-touted PRIDE standout Mauricio Rua. Serra, 9-4, echoed St. Pierre, "That's what I always heard: You beat the guy, you're the guy." Serra's championship is considered a fluke. Serra lamented, "If I beat [St. Pierre] again, they'll want to give him the best three out of five!" "Serra likes being Rocky," White explained, likening Serra's role to Sylvester Stallone's character in "Rocky IV".  "I want to thank Matt Serra for taking this fight in Canada.  I don't think there's going to be a lot of Matt Serra fans here in Canada." UFC 83 will be the preeminent MMA promotion's debut in Canada. Quebec Boxing Council Commissioner Mario Latraverse announced, "In April, we have our Super Bowl." Quebec was the first Canadian province to sanction MMA in 1998. White told a curious Canadian press corps, "People in Canada don't even realize how big this sport is in Canada." Tickets went on pre-sale yesterday and White claimed "13,700 were sold on the first day.  We're almost sold out now.  This event here will be the biggest UFC event ever." "It's a dream come true," a swaggering St. Pierre boasted of fighting in his hometown.  "I can't be more happy than I am right now." St. Pierre's loss to Serra is blamed on his mental focus. "I had a lot of issues before," St. Pierre admitted.  "It's done now." However, fighting in his hometown will compound distractions unimaginably. "My life might change," St. Pierre mentioned thoughtfully. White confirmed the card will also feature former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin versus TUF champion Travis Lutter, Brit TUF champion Michael Bisping, lightweight TUF champion Mac Danzig, and Canadians Patrick Côté and "Hands of Stone" Sam Stout. ...